Low-profile air filter module

Abstract

A filter module for use with a room air-purifying system. The filter module includes a housing and a filter. The housing forms an air inlet, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The outlet ports are configured for fluid connection to commercial ductwork. The filter is maintained by the housing and is configured to retain air-borne contaminants. During use, airflow passes from the filter to the outlet ports. By incorporating at least two outlet ports, the filter module preferably assumes a low-profile configuration, thereby facilitating installation of the filter module at any desired location relative to a room of interest.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a filter module for use with an air-purifying system. More particularly, it relates to a low-profile filter module configured for convenient installation in commercial settings.In recent years, there has been a growing interest to improve environmental air conditions in homes and in commercial settings, such as offices, restaurants, taverns, bowling alleys, hospitals, laboratories, lavatories, and the like. As more information has been made available to the public concerning the hazards of indoor air pollution, there has been an increased demand for filtering devices that can be used to effectively improve air quality.A self-contained, stand-alone air-cleaning or filtration unit is normally employed to clean air in both residential and commercial settings. Stand-alone air filtration units can assume a wide variety of forms, but generally include a housing maintaining one or more applicable filter materials and a fan or blow...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

One aspect of the present invention relates to a filter module for use with a commercial air-purifying system. The filter module includes a housing and a filter. The housing forms an air inlet, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. Each of the outlet ports are configured for fluid connection to commercial ductwork. The filter is maintained by the housing and is configured to retain air-borne contaminates. During use, airflow passes from the filter to the outlet ports. By forming the housing to include at least two outlet ports, the filter module preferably assumes a low-profile configuration. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the outlet ports are formed side-by-side, each having a diameter of less than 11 inches. With this configuration, an overall height of the filter module is greatly reduced, thereby facilitating installation of the filter module at a desired location.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an air-purifying system. The system includes a blower module, a filter module and at least two ducts. The filter module is spaced from the blower module. The two ducts extend from the blower module to the filter module, fluidly connecting the two components. By fluidly connecting the blower and filter modules with more than a single duct, the system allows for operation of the blower module at lower speeds while achieving desired airflow. Further, in one preferred embodiment, the filter module assumes a low-profile configuration by forming two, side-by-side outlet ports.

Problems solved by technology

Taken in combination, the large blower unit and several filter materials render the resulting air filtration unit relatively heavy and large.

The above-described weight and size characteristics render installation or re-installation of a self-contained, commercial air filtration unit quite cumbersome.

While a location of an air filtration unit may be optimal for one room configuration, that same positioning may be highly inefficient for the new configuration.

Obviously, this is a difficult task.

The presence of this auxiliary equipment may reduce the space available for installation of the commercial air filtration unit.

That is to say, due to the requisite height of the unit's housing, immovable auxiliary equipment may impede installation of the cleaning unit at a preferred location.

Likely due to the industry acceptance of self-contained air-cleaning units, as well as the engineering obstacles presented by a modular configuration, it is believed that no such product currently exists.

However, the blower unit has only one inlet and one outlet, such that the system is essentially restricted to a single filter unit.

Unfortunately, overall filter efficiency may be greatly reduced.

As a result, even with the one identified modular design, it is highly likely that auxiliary equipment located above a false ceiling will impede installation of the filter module at a desired location.

While blower motors can undoubtedly be sized to satisfy most airflow requirements, elevated operational speeds result in increased noise levels.

In other words, even if a smaller diameter duct were employed, the associated power increase required of the blower unit may result in unacceptable noise levels.

However, the standard "self-contained" design is highly inflexible, and may be difficult to install and / or reposition.

Images